Collapsible back-rest for seats.



J; A. CLARK. COLLAPSIBLE BACK REST FORSEATS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. l9l5.

1,1 QH WL PatentedAug. 29,1916.

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JOHN CLARK, OE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

COLLAPSIBLE BACK-REST FOR SEATS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 13 16.."

Application filed March 15, 1915. Serial No. 14,368.

1 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN A. CLARK, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Back-Rests for Seats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to portable back rests, especially to back rests which are collapsible.

It is an object to provide a back rest which can be collapsed to occupy a small space and which can be quickly applied to bench seats.

In open air auditoriums such as are present upon athletic fields, and especially in football and baseball parks, a large portion of the seats are without backs. Such seats become uncomfortable if occupied for any length of time. Backs have been provided which are permanently secured to the seat by hinge means and which may be folded upon the seat so that they are out of the way when the audience is moving to or from their seats. Seats of this character are limited as to the height of the back, are not strong and the back is fixed as to its position relative to other seats.

I provide a portable collapsible back rest comprising a structure of such character that it may be carried in the hand and applied to any bench seat and at any position along the bench. The back is high enough to provide a comfortable back rest; a clean seat also provided, and the structure is strong and durable.

Embodiments of my invention are illus trated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of my back rest in open position applied to a bench. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing in full lines the back restin its open position, and in dotted lines the back folded. Fig. 3 is a plan view, showing the back folded. Fig. 4 illustrates the back rest collapsed and ready for carrying from one place to another, the back brace bars being broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail of a brace rod and its attaching means. Fig. 6 is a detail of a modified form of back rest attaching means. Fig. 7 is a sectional detailon line 7-7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a form of a detail, similar to Fig. 6.

More specifically, 10 and 11 indicate seat bars which are preferably of metal and of angle cross section, thereby providing a light and strong structure. At the forward ends of seat bars 10 and 11 flanges 12 and 13 are provided for engaging the front part of the seat. A flexible member 14 is attached at each of the parallel edges to bars 10 and 11. This flexible member is preferably duck and when the back rest is in open position, covers the bench, thereby protecting the occupant from contact with the bench which is often dirty. V

Adjacent the rear end of bars 10 and 11 are'pivoted back bars 15 and 16 of substantially the same structure as bars 10 and 11. Pivot points 17 and 18 are so disposed that extensions 19 and 20 are formed on bars 10 and 11, serving as feet for securing the chair from tipping backward. Pivotally connected at 21 tobar 11 is a brace bar 22 which is bent at 23 to form an angle. A similar bar 24 is pivotally connected to bar 10 at point 25. Upon back 16 is secured a strap '26 which is preferably integral with the bar, and which serves as a guide for brace bar' 22 which passes therethrough. A notch 27 is provided near the end of brace bar 22 so that when the back rest is in open position, the strap 26 will be engaged in the notch. On the inner side of bar 22 and adjacent slot 27 is a projection 28, which is adapted to slip into recess 29 on bar 16 when the back rest is in folded position as indicated in Fig. 8. Brace bar 24 is similarly connected to back bar 15.

Connecting back bars 15 and 16 is a lazy tongs comprised of links 30 and 31 pivotally connected at 32 to bar 16 and at their other end connected to links 34 and 33 respectively. The lazy tongs is completed by pivotally connecting links 35 and 36 to bars 34 and 33 respectively, and at 38 to back bar 15. Ad jacent the upper end of back bar 15 is pivotally connected a brace bar 39 which has a bend as indicated at 40. Bar 39 has a notch 41 at the end adapted to engage a guide strap 42 which is secured to bar 16 and preferably integral-therewith. A lug or projecti n 43 11 ar .16 i p d so that the end of bar 39 may be slipped behind it. Pivoted to bar 16 is a brace bar 44 which is similar in form to bar 39 and is guided at its free end by a strap 45 with which it is adapted to engage by means of notch 46. A lug 47 is disposed on bar 15 to secure bar 44 when the back rest is in a closed position. 7

In the use of the device the back rest which is carried in its collapsed condition, shown in Fig. 4 is opened by pulling the back bars 15 and 16 and the seat bars 10 and 11 away from each other, the brace bars 39 and 44 being released from engagement withprojections 43 and 47 by raising the same away from bars 15 and 16. After the position shown in Fig. 3 is attained, bars 39 and 44 are moved so that notches 41 and 46 engage straps 45 and 42 respectively. The back is now braced against closure. The back rest is next positioned in its place on the bench by causing flanges 12 and 13 to abut the front of the bench. The back is then lifted in its full open position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bars 22 and 24 dropping into position such that the notches therein engage the straps as indicated by position of bar 22 and strap 26 in Fig. 5. The back is now braced against closure, and against swinging further outward.

When it is desired to close the back rest, bars 22 and 24 are lifted so that the notches therein are out of engagement with the straps 26 and the back is folded forward, projections 28 on straps 22 and 24, engaging recesses 29 in back bars 15 and 16, thus holding the back bar and braces in position. The angle form of bars 22 and 24 permit the latter to lie withinthe edges of bars 15 and 16. Brace bars 39 and 44 are now released from straps 42 and 45 by lifting their ends and the bars 15 and 16 pushed toward each other, the structure taking the position shown in Fig. 4. The ends of bars 39 and 44 are secured by projections 43 and 47, the structure now being in condition to be carried away or moved about. The angle form of bars 39 and 40 permit the bars to be within the edges of the collapsiblebackrest.

My preferred form of back rest is adapted for use'with concrete benches or structures where sharp pins cannot be used to grip under the bench structure. In Fig. 6 I have shown amodified form of structure in which a sharp pin 48 is secured to flanges 12 and 13. Such a structure is adapted to'be applied to a wooden bench. The back rest is forced against the bench so that pin 48 is inserted in the wood, in which case the rear neath the top of a bench board. Various other modifications of means of attaching my back rest to a bench may be designed without departing from my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible back rest, comprising parallel disposed seat bars, back bars pivotally connected to each seat bar, brace bars pivotally secured at one end to a back bar, said last named brace bars bent longitudinally and having notches at the ends opposite to their pivotal connection, straps on said back bars in which said last named brace bars are slidably disposed, and with which the notches therein are adapted to engage.

2. A collapsible back rest, comprising parallel disposed seat bars, back bars pivotally connected to each seat bar, brace bars pivotally connected to the seat bars, said brace bars bent longitudinally and having notches at the ends opposite to their pivotal connection, straps on said back bars in which said brace bars are slidably disposed and with which said notches are adapted to engage, and brace bars pivotally secured at one end to a back bar and detachably secured at the 1E(gther end to the oppositely disposed back 3. A collapsible back rest, comprising parallel disposed seat bars, back bars pivotally connected to each seat bar, brace bars pivotally connected to the seat bars, said brace bars bent longitudinally and having notches at the ends opposite to their pivotal connection, straps on said back bars in which said brace bars are slidably disposed and with which said notches are adapted to engage, brace bars pivotally secured at one end to a back bar, said last named brace bars bent longitudinally and having notches at the ends opposite to their pivotal connection, straps on said back bars in which said last mentioned brace bars are slidably disposed and with which the notches therein are adapted to engage.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of March, 1915.

JOHN A. CLARK.

Witnesses:

ERNEST L. WALLACE, EDMUND A. STRAUSE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

